Gabapentin for dogs

[SockFluffInTheBath]

My ancient arthritic dog has been prescribed a trial of gabapentin. The vet explained it all but it’s one of the drugs my DH has been on when his back has been really bad and a little (irrational) voice is screaming in my head. Any experiences of this please?

You might struggle to get it in him if you’re opening the capsule btw.

By my dog’s reaction if it split - it tastes really bad, I mean really bad. He was fine with pardale which is paracetamol based and I’m assuming tasted like paracetamol or cocodomal, tramadol, amantadine... but the gabapentin made him go, urgh, no

I have been opening the capsule @tabulahrasa and assumed it tasted bad but I’ve never had much success getting him to swallow tablets. Do you have any tricks for that? I’ve tried popping them down his throat and rubbing his neck, and coating them in peanut butter etc but they always just get spat out.

My previous dog was on Gabapentin for her last few years and it made a huge difference to her comfort levels. It is known in quite a few cases to induce a sense of euphoria; it definitely did for my girl! She had always been reactive to other dogs but this abated around the time she went on the Gabapentin (may have been coincidence, may have been just old age). My mother-in-law was on the same drug too and with the same results 😆

We found keeping it wholewas easier to get in. You could try mixing it into a spoonful of soft food like tuna/cheesespread but maybe use a ramekin size pot so it can't be licked all over the place or some left in the bowl.

@AlwaysJamTomorrow he does seem happier

@Mummyford this is our first round so I’ll bear it in mind!

@WhatsTheEffingPoint thank you, I’ll give those a try… I can’t keep feeding him jam sandwiches

Gabapentin is available in a chicken flavoured solution as well via a specials manufacturer - your vets should know them and very probably use them, summit pharmaceuticals - but it’s horribly expensive so unless you have good insurance can be a bit cost prohibitive.

I hope it goes well OP. My lab is terrible for getting meds into as well. He just doesn't trust me if I try to give him any treat type thing now. So I have to rope the DC in sometimes. Peanut butter seems the best but I have to get the tablet in and pretend to drop the pb 🙈. Next option is inside a bit of sausage. Because of this palava he has liquid thyroid meds every day as there in no way I can get 8 tablets into him daily.

But I'm gone off topic. My old lab was on gabapentin, but tbh this was palliative care. It didn't suit him very well and it made him quite paranoid. If he couldn't see me he would cry and howl etc. It was awful. But they all react differently.

My current lab also has arthritis. Bless him, he is so young only 5 and the diagnosis was quite a shock. He's on pentosan injections now as the vet hopes this will lubricate his joints, he is so young so we are trying this now. I hate injecting him though. I'm a nervous wreck as one of the needles came apart once and the meds shot up my arm 🙈🙈. And they are so bloody pricey. He was on weekly now to monthly. I'm not sure it's the right one for him, but we will see.

I hope you manage to disguise the tablets easily enough, I know it can be a struggle. I have crushed and put some into a bit of yoghurt before as well, but he refused that as he knew something suspect was in there. And this is a Lab who normally eats anything.

I just shove down throat and then give a treat tbh, no real trick to it other than you’ve got to really shove it back there, if it’s too far forward then they can use their tongue to move it out.

I find with dogs they get used to it and just accept that’s what’s happening for the treat. The cat I do when she’s sleeping, might be worth a try? Lol

Peanut butter seems the best but I have to get the tablet in and pretend to drop the pb 🙈

PMSL sounds like the kind of shenanigans that go on here 🤣

Thanks @tabulahrasa might have to give that a go!

Thanks @LemonViolet that’s worth knowing.

@SockFluffInTheBath

Peanut butter seems the best but I have to get the tablet in and pretend to drop the pb 🙈

PMSL sounds like the kind of shenanigans that go on here 🤣

Thanks @tabulahrasa might have to give that a go!

It is a bit ridiculous though isn't it 😂. Today I 'dropped' some loaded tuna, I think he is going to cotton on to this one soon and I will no longer have a built in kitchen hoover.

It gets worse though as I have two dogs, both equally as fast. So I have to be sure the unmedicated pooch doesn't find the loaded snack first.

I did try the shove down the throat method. We had coughing and sputtering, and then he wouldn't even take the biscuit from me for being a good boy.

And he is supposed to be on a super strict diet. But it's PB, tuna, biscuits etc etc all to get a half bloody tablet in him.

PS. He doesn't like his new prescription diet food either. I've been getting the look at every breakfast and supper time. The first 3 days he refused to eat it.

Love him to bits though, but lawd he is so dramatic.

I ended up just doing shove down because the dog that had all the medications seemed to be able to spit the tablet out no matter what it was in, as in several times I’m sure he swallowed a bit of pate with the tablet and regurgitated the tablet after lol

So I basically taught him to do it on command.

oh dear @isthismylifenow it’s a good job we love them!

several times I’m sure he swallowed a bit of pate with the tablet and regurgitated the tablet after confused lol

Sounds about right 🤣

Tuna mayonnaise this morning and went down a treat. Seems to be working on the pain (excellent news) but the flip side of that is he now stands still for periods of time (previously either padding unless eating or lying down) and within 30 seconds his back legs have let down to the point he’s almost sitting and then he needs a hand to get moving again. I think we’re coming to the end. Going to call the vet snd see what they say 😢

@SockFluffInTheBath

Tuna mayonnaise this morning and went down a treat. Seems to be working on the pain (excellent news) but the flip side of that is he now stands still for periods of time (previously either padding unless eating or lying down) and within 30 seconds his back legs have let down to the point he’s almost sitting and then he needs a hand to get moving again. I think we’re coming to the end. Going to call the vet snd see what they say 😢

Oh Sock I am sorry to read this. That is worrying. What did the vet say?

They’ll come out next week and gave a look, could be ‘dizziness’ from the gabapentin but I don’t think it is. It happened about 5 minutes ago and he was struggling to get up before I could get to him and his face was so sad. I can’t do this to him but it seems so harsh when it’s ‘only’ his back legs. I’ve had a dog with DM (as a child) that my parents let go on too long snd I don’t want him to get like that but it’s so hard to know when to say goodbye when they’re not actually there yet. I’m sobbing writing this. It’s just so bloody cruel.

Oh Socks, it is so difficult and yes, so very upsetting.

I did mention my Lab was on the same meds, he had arthritis and then his cruciate ligament gave way. He was 11 and we felt he was too old to recover from the surgery and still have to deal with the arthritis.

We had him on the meds for a while , but it wasn't long after that he then couldn't control his bladder and for some reason his teeth started to fall out.

So we decided it was time. But I still get tearful now, years later. It was the hardest decision ever, not helped by the fact my ex had just moved out and Ddog was my son's dog. He was 14 then.

But we kept him home for another week, spoilt him rotten (he was on a diet practically his whole life, because Labrador), and took every moment we could to let him know how much he was loved. He wasnt very mobile so he laid on a sleeping bag and we pulled him around everywhere. He ate rump steak, had a new collar (he just loved having a new collar), and all the attention we could give him. We took so many photos.

I knew it couldn't be more than that time wise as he was on so many meds for pain, I sometimes feel bad that that week was for us rather than him.

We kept his ashes and he is here with me. I say hello to him every day and sometimes I just sit and chat to him.

I really do know how difficult this is. So although I am a complete stranger to you, you are in my thoughts. I know it's not straightforward or an easy decision. but I also know it's also not easy to see our furry family being unhappy.

Let's hope the vet has some answers for you, maybe the meds are just not the right ones.

💐

@isthismylifenow thank you for your kindness. I’ve spent most of the afternoon crying but then he snaffled a sausage at dinner time and is now skipping round like a giddy puppy… the ups and downs are so hard, I remember with our last dog one minute you’re steeling yourself for what you need to do, and the next minute you feel bad for considering it.

(he was on a diet practically his whole life, because Labrador)

This did make me smile. Sounds like he had a wonderful life with you.

My little guy, who is 11, was prescribed gabapentin when he had pancreatitis. He had been yelping a little when moving.

He only too it for about 3 days and it did seem to really help. He slept a lot but no more yelping.

@SockFluffInTheBath

@SockFluffInTheBath sorry posted too soon (stupid phone)
I understand 100% how you are feeling, as we are at that point with my boy, at Christmas he was diagnosed with cushings, on top of his wobby arthritic legs. I must admit I had a full on melt down, crying snot fest on new years day over it all.
His back legs too seem to sink down and we have to help him occasionally, other times hes plodding round the house stealth ninja style but he's still so happy, still continent, grown all his fur back in the last month that hasn't grown in a year!
So we are just taking it day by day, keeping things low level for him and seeing how he is.
I wish you all the best.

@WhatsTheEffingPoint thank you for taking the time to share. I’m sorry you’re navigating this as well. It’s just flipping horrible.

My greyhound was on 3 x 300mg a day for a tumour on her spinal cord. She took it for about a year before she died. It spaced her out for the first few days, then she was fine. They removed the tumour and she had a blissful few months where she was back to her usual bouncy self before the cancer got her again.

@Mummyford @Peridot1 the vets mentioned trying librela as the gabapentin is knocking him sideways now. Would you mind telling me more about your experiences please when you have a moment?